Eagle Byzantium

Almost at the same time, in front of the canyon leading to the plateau farther away from Corgisson Castle, Gawain rode his warhorse high on the hillside beside him, with the guards holding various flags and surrounding him. The Grand Duke's white cloak had melted into the snow, and his brown hair and beard were covered with snow foam, but he still insisted on extending his hand to salute the troops marching forward below him.

This was the "Northern Task Force" that was heading to capture the Melitene Fortress, also known as the "Melo Detachment". Walking in the front were Melelo and the deputy commander Monomachus. They were both wearing beautiful and solid armor, and they raised their hands to their brows, and saluted in the direction of the Grand Duke on horseback. Behind them were 600 Red Hand Cavalrymen trotting on horses. For the convenience of marching, they did not carry long lances and long-handled caltrops, but each of them had a sword, and the general cavalrymen carried quivers on their backs. In the rear queue, the first were Hector and Pragit, who had just been appointed as the vanguard officers. They were both Armenians and were familiar with the geographical features ahead. Behind these two were 300 Jinat cavalrymen. In their saddle bags, there were four javelins with counterweights, and Turkish-style scimitars on their waists. The cheers for the Grand Duke were particularly enthusiastic, one wave higher than the other.

Behind them were nine hundred newly-attached Armenian soldiers, all of whom were originally prisoners of war. They also rode horses, but they also had to take care of an extra horse to replace the Red Hand Cavalry in front. At the end of the palace formation was an infantry detachment specially selected from Branas's brigade, escorting the baggage and military servants in the middle. Among them, Gawain saw that the baggage vehicle was the latest design of the Little Sunfish. In fact, there are two specifications. One is the "Glamorgan Cart", which was sent by the Roman Empire in the 10th century to Britain by the Patriarch to provide disaster relief (at that time, the relationship between the Kingdom of Britain and the Eastern Roman Empire was very close, and the Patriarch also brought back many gifts from the other side, such as black gold. ——coal) was seen by the Patriarch himself: in the blue sky, green hillside, gray low wall and rising sea mist, local farmers either used packhorses or had people pull them, carrying manure and goods with this kind of cart, and moving fast on the hillside. Of course, the Patriarch also accidentally saw the "unspeakable sexual acts" committed by local farmers on ewes. After returning, the Patriarch drew the regulations of this kind of cart on parchment and kept it. Later, Anna copied it into a manuscript book: Now in the Holy Monastery in Gallipoli, the Archdeacon Desiderius is still secretly sending the books and manuscripts in the library to Seleucia.

This kind of cart is very narrow and long, made of two logs and a row of crossbeams riveted together. At first glance, it looks like a ladder with an arc. It is not difficult to make (because it has no wheels, and wheels are the most complicated part of the process). The part of the log that extends out is polished with tools to become the shaft, which can be connected and buckled with the yoke of the packhorse. The craftsmen put four rows of ladders on the crossbeams, three short ones in the front and the longest one at the back, so that the cargo, luggage and leather bags can be tied to them in groups with ropes, so that they can remain stable in the bumps. Even if they are tilted, the ladders can prevent the luggage and leather bags from rolling down. It is precisely because of this structure that this Glamorgan cart always keeps an inclination (which is also conducive to the stability of the cargo) while being pulled, which is very unique.

"It is worthy of the technology of Glamorgan." Seeing this, Gawain couldn't help but sigh with Branas beside him.

Another type of baggage cart structure is completely the Byzantine technology, that is, the "sled cart". This vehicle is no different from the current sled. It has simple ladder frames at both ends, two side panels and a crossbeam in the middle to form a baggage carriage, and two runners are riveted below, connected to the pack animal with a rope. It is most suitable for use in the snowy season in the mountains. This type of vehicle was used in the empire's wars in the north with the Slavs and Varangians. Therefore, Agnes also determined the ratio of the two vehicles, seven to three.

"Very good, Branas. In this way, I can go to Cappadocia and meet Anna with peace of mind." Looking at the long-drawn team, Gawain said with relief, "Melo carries an astrolabe, so he can accurately grasp the time."

"According to the suggestions of Hector and Pragit, the northern detachment will march from the upper valley of the Sanus River (now the Seyhan River in Turkey), which can not only conceal the eyes and ears of the Danishmond Emirate, but also obtain water nearby. Then we will break through the Nurhas Pass and surprise attack the flank of the Melitene Fortress." Branas added the plan.

Gawain nodded, "It seems that although it is a long detour, it is indeed an unexpected direction. Branas, you must leave the main force of the brigade here. If the detachment has any problems, use beacon fire to communicate and respond at any time to minimize the losses. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Grand Duke!"

In fact, Gawain knew very well that he was gambling again, a real gamble. The distance from the upper valley of the Sanus River to the Nurhas Pass was now in the snowy season. Soldiers and horses often had to march at an altitude of hundreds of meters or even thousands of meters. Even with the two sets of cheap carts developed by the Little Sunfish (after the blueprints came out, Gawain gathered all the craftsmen and Armenian craftsmen around Vanka City to cut wood and build carts), it was still a dangerous and difficult journey. Therefore, he chose Melo, who he relied on the most, to lead the army, and selected honorary troops to participate in this expedition. He also constantly reminded Branas afterwards, "In the valley north of Kokisong, build a simple beacon fort every twenty miles, hire some locals to accompany the soldiers to station in, and follow Melo's detachment to prevent them from losing contact..."

But after all, Gawain still couldn't calm down. His current field backbone team was just these three brigades, plus two cavalry companies, with a total military strength of only about 15,000 people. This was really not the time to be generous. After repeated deliberation, Gawain returned to Vanka City and wrote a sincere apology letter to Anna, "I'm very sorry, Anna. Whether Melitene succeeds or not is like a piece of red-hot charcoal in my heart. Unless I see the triumphant soldiers, with the ice and snow brought from there, I can extinguish the fire of worry... So I can only stay in Vanka City, and I can't accompany you under the snow-capped peaks of Cappadocia for the time being..."

When the letter was finished, Agnes hurried over to the vaulted hall of the Lion Castle and handed Gawain a secret letter. "According to our spies in Antioch, Bohemond and Tancred began to mobilize troops in Edessa, Samosata and the Marash Mountains. It seems that there is a big move."

"Like I said to Branas before, no one likes to have someone else's sword hanging over their head." Gawain's bloodshot eyes appeared from between his fingers, and he answered the little sunfish with a hoarse voice. (To be continued ~^~)